XN000022-1990-10-31 — Page 64

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1990

62

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S DECISION ON SATELLITE TELEVISION

*

L

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AFTER RECEIVING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE

AUTHORITY, BROADCASTING

HAS APPROVED THE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR WHEREBY LICENSING SATELLITE MASTER ANTENNA TELEVISION (SMATV) SYSTEMS SIGNALS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO MORE THAN ONE TELEVISION SET AND SATELLITE TELEVISION UPLINKING FROM HONG KONG.

IN ITS CONSIDERATION OF THE REGIMES, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE DEGREE OF COMPETITION CONSIDERED DESIRABLE BETWEEN SERVICES IN SATELLITE TELEVISION AND EXISTING OR PLANNED TELEVISION HONG KONG INCLUDING CABLE TELEVISION.

THE COUNCIL WAS ALIVE TO THE NEED FOR THE REGIMES ΤΟ BE EQUITABLE WITH REGARD TO THE INTERESTS OF THOSE TELEVISION SERVICES.

"THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED THAT IT WILL BE ILLEGAL FOR SYSTEMS TO SMATV

BE INSTALLED IN HONG KONG OTHER THAN BY SMATV OPERATORS WHO HAVE BEEN LICENSED BY THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS (TA)," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

AUTHORITY

BE

INSTALLATION

ALLOWED

ΤΟ

"SMATV OPERATORS WILL BE ALLOWED ONLY TO PROVIDE AND MAINTENANCE ONCE OF THE EQUIPMENT. THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE PROGRAMMES."

SMATV

GRANTED A

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STATED THAT BEFORE BEING LICENCE,

OPERATORS WILL HAVE TO MEET STANDARDS OF TECHNICAL LAID DOWN BY THE TA AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROOF OF COMPETENCE FINANCIAL STANDING.

SHOULD:

GOOD

PRINCIPAL CONDITIONS OF LICENCE WILL BE THAT THE LICENSEE

רד

NOT TAKE CABLE ACROSS UNLEASED CROWN LAND OR PUBLIC STREETS;

NOT CHARGE A SUBSCRIPTION FEE OR COLLECT A SUBSCRIPTION FEE FOR A PROGRAMME PROVIDER (ALTHOUGH HE WOULD BE PERMITTED TO CHARGE FOR PROVIDING INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING SMATV EQUIPMENT);

NOT PROVIDE OR PACKAGE PROGRAMMES FOR DISTRIBUTION;

DISTRIBUTE ONLY SIGNALS INTENDED FOR GENERAL RECEPTION;

INSTALL ONLY EQUIPMENT COMPATIBLE WITH GOOD QUALITY RECEPTION OF THE LICENSED TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTERS' SIGNALS; AND

COMPLY WITH ANY DIRECTION OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL NOT DISTRIBUTE THROUGH THE SYSTEMS HE HAS INSTALLED PROSCRIBED PROGRAMME SERVICES.

TO

/WHEN THE